A human rights researcher says Fiji's ratification of both the UN Convention Against Torture and its optional protocol would send out a strong message to the community.
Fiji's parliament is reviewing whether to sign up to the treaty which obliges countries to prevent torture and redress victims.
Kate Schuetze of Amnesty International says signing the optional agreement as well would offer victims of torture redress through the United Nations, if they have no luck in their own country.
"That actually gives an additional mechanism for them to say, we've been tortured in country, we haven't received justice in country, we've gone through the processes here and we haven't received any outcome. That means they can then write to the UN and then ask the UN to look into the issue."
Ms Schuetze says if Fiji ratifies the convention it would have to report to the UN on progress every two years.
Listen to full interview with Kate Schuetze on Dateline Pacific
Video footage of a man allegedly being beaten by Fiji security personnel in 2012. Photo: RNZ
